Manchester United 2-0 Brighton (Lukaku 37, Matic 83)
The fixture after the midweek before. The aftermath of the
Sevilla defeat lasted right up until kick-off here, with the manager pre-match
press conference an extraordinary example of the fight that Jose Mourinho has
always been known for. As United’s season was punctured on Tuesday the boss was
already looking for the distraction, an angle of excuses.
It was something, even so. An impassioned 12 minute defence
of his record in the Champions League, and a football history lesson of
United’s substandard performances post-Ferguson. The Portuguese reeled off
United’s league positions, and compared them with City, to show how difficult
it was and is for him to bridge the gap. He then listed European results after
2011, bluntly saying “this is football heritage” after every point. It might
well be useful to mention Sevilla’s excellent European record, but this weekend
they lost to Leganes. The Spanish minnows must have some heritage they’re
hiding in their tiny ground, eh Jose?
Not that my rather pithy last sentence detracts from the
good feeling I got from watching Mourinho hammer home his point that United are
shit and he is desperate to turn us around. Because he was spot on. United have
been poor, especially in Europe. That doesn’t explain a loss to Sevilla, a
result that will hang over the club for a good few months, but perhaps should
help explain why the reaction is not immediately to get rid of Mourinho.
You might’ve forgotten there was also an FA Cup
Quarter-Final to win. The game was ugly, with very little to write home about.
Thankfully for the manager, two of his most trusted lieutenants – Romelu Lukaku
and Nemanja Matic – scored to send us to Wembley.
Lukaku, fast becoming a leader in this team, hit his 25th
of the season from a Matic cross, and then followed numerous Brighton chances
against pedestrian passing of the home side. The toothless nature of the South
Coast attack, combined with the commanding display of cup keeper Romero meant
that United were never really in trouble, but it wasn’t in the slightest the
sort of response the faithful would’ve wanted after Sevilla. Only when the
second goal was scored did we look comfortable, when Matic nodded in a quality
free-kick from Ashley Young.
Young? Ah yes. For the utility man had come on at half time
for Luke Shaw, who was yet again publicly slammed by his manager afterwards for
a dreadful performance. Shaw hadn’t been great, but I certainly wouldn’t have
hooked him at half-time. The England left-back is definitely too fond of a
pizza or three but has it actually had an impact on his football? Is Shaw being
bullied by a bitter coach? Shaw’s United career seems at an end, whatever the
real truth.
Pogba and for the first time Sanchez were left on the bench,
but it barely got a mention afterwards as post-match quotes again took centre
stage. It wasn’t just Shaw, almost every player received criticism, and some
might say it was just deserts for underperforming players. Mourinho questioned whether we were scared to
play, although Matic was described as “an island of personality” in terms of
his mentality compared to some others.
There was encouragement in the stands at least for a singing
section experiment that was a big success. The traditional area of the away
fans was instead populated by some of the most boisterous members of the Red
Army, with the Brighton fans shoved into Tier 2 of the East Stand. The result
was a massive boost to the atmosphere inside Old Trafford, as the acoustics in
that part of the ground where the East and South stands meet are so much better
and conducive for signing than other areas. Unlike the current signing section,
no one was forced out of an area of the ground. The club, J Stand operatives
and hardworking Reds deserve immense credit for bringing together so many
like-minded vocal United fans at such short notice. Now it’s up to the club to
make it permanent.
Seldom has the international break come at a better time for
the Reds. An opportunity to rest, take stock, and regroup ahead of the run-in.
Another cup semi at Wembley to look forward to. It isn’t all doom and gloom.
United (4-2-3-1) Romero 7.5; Valencia 7, Bailly 5.5,
Smalling 6, Shaw 5 (Young 46, 7); McTominay 6.5, Matic 8; Mata 6 (Rashford 75,
5), Lingard 5.5 (Fellaini 89), Martial 5.5; Lukaku 7.5.
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